State rests case in retrial of former Unicoi County sheriff

ERWIN — The state rested its case on the third day of the retrial of former Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris on the charge of theft over $1,000.

Testimony got under way quickly Wednesday in Unicoi County Criminal Court with the state calling Lynn Colbaugh to the stand. She is the wife of Tom Colbaugh, who provided testimony on Tuesday. The couple donated two bloodhounds to the county and possessed the two Buicks that are at the heart of the case.

It is alleged that Harris pocketed $4,500 in county funds for two vehicles that were donated to the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department by the Colbaughs. Harris’ defense contends that this funding from the sale of the vehicles, along with some of Harris’ own money, was to be put toward the training of bloodhounds previously donated to the sheriff’s department by the Colbaughs.